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About NUI Galway

Since 1845, NUI Galway has been sharing the highest quality teaching and research with Ireland and the world. Find out what makes our University so special – from our distinguished history to the latest news and campus developments.

Contact Details

Biography

Expertise in microbial biofilm and microbial ecology research, focused on: anaerobic biofilm reactor technology for biorefining, energy production and wastewater treatment; Control of biofilms in infectious disease settings and the microbial ecology of anaerobic biofilms and soil ecosystems. 105 papers in leading international, peer-reviewed, journals.Scientific lead for the Sustainability Pillar of the Dairy Processing Technology Centre (www.dptc.ie) funded by the Irish Dairy Industry and Enterprise Ireland and actively involved in several other projects focused on the development of a sustainable biomass and biorefining sector. My group developed low-temperature anaerobic biofilm technology towards commercialisation and the technology developed in my lab was the basis for the establishment of NVP Energy (www.nvpenergy.com). Co-founder of a spin-out company from NUI, Galway - Westway Health, which was formed in 2012 and is focused on the development of an exciting and novel antimicrobial platform for infection control in veterinary and human settings (www.westwayhealth.com).

I also have a strong interest in translational aspects of research and a low-temperature anaerobic process, developed in NUIG, is currently being commercialised as part of a spin-out company. I am the Sustainability Pillar lead in the Dairy Processing Technology Centre, which works on behalf of Irish enterprises to develop the indigenous environmental technology sector.

Research Projects

Project

Start Date

End Date

SFI OIP 2006 ANALYTICAL FACILITIES V O FLAHERTY

01-JAN-06

31-DEC-06

EPA ERTDI WP 1 & 2 V. O'FLAHERTY 2005-CD-H1-M1

01-FEB-06

30-OCT-14

EI CFTD 2005 107 VINCENT O FLAHERTY

01-DEC-05

30-OCT-09

THE IMPACT OF ON SITE WASTEWATER EFFLUENT ON RIVERS AND WELLS VINCENT O FLAHERTY

Peer Reviewed Journals

Year

Publication

(2016)

'Sensitivity of streamflow and microbial water quality to future climate and land use change in the West of Ireland'
Coffey, R,Benham, B,Wolfe, ML,Dorai-Raj, S,Bhreathnach, N,O'Flaherty, V,Cormican, M,Cummins, E (2016) 'Sensitivity of streamflow and microbial water quality to future climate and land use change in the West of Ireland'. Regional Environmental Change, 16 :2111-2128 [DOI] [Details]

'Using microbiological tracers to assess the impact of winter land use restrictions on the quality of stream headwaters in a small catchment'
Flynn, RM,Deakin, J,Archbold, M,Cushnan, H,Kilroy, K,O'Flaherty, V,Misstear, BD (2016) 'Using microbiological tracers to assess the impact of winter land use restrictions on the quality of stream headwaters in a small catchment'. Science Of The Total Environment, 541 :949-956 [DOI] [Details]

'Norovirus Genotypes Present in Oysters and in Effluent from a Wastewater Treatment Plant during the Seasonal Peak of Infections in Ireland in 2010'
Rajko-Nenow, P,Waters, A,Keaveney, S,Flannery, J,Tuite, G,Coughlan, S,O'Flaherty, V,Dore, W (2013) 'Norovirus Genotypes Present in Oysters and in Effluent from a Wastewater Treatment Plant during the Seasonal Peak of Infections in Ireland in 2010'. Applied And Environmental Microbiology, 79 :2578-2587 [DOI] [Details]

'Development of microbial community structure and actvity in a high-rate anaerobic bioreactor at 18°C'
Connaughton, S., Collins, G. and O'Flaherty, V. (2006) 'Development of microbial community structure and actvity in a high-rate anaerobic bioreactor at 18°C'. Water Research, 40 (5):1009-1017 [DOI] [Details]

ISME14 – The power of the small
Barrett M., Fitzhenry K., O’Flaherty V., Dore W., Keaveney S., Cormican M., Clifford E. (2012) Employing UV and filtration systems in the treatment and removal of the pathogenic noroviruses from sewage waste ISME14 – The power of the small [Details]

The Role of Soil Type and Condition in the Fate and Transport of Landspread Microbial Enteropathogens. Teagasc Walsh Fellowships Seminar.
Brennan, F.P.,O'Flaherty, V.,Richards, K (2009) The Role of Soil Type and Condition in the Fate and Transport of Landspread Microbial Enteropathogens. Teagasc Walsh Fellowships Seminar. Conference Paper [Details]

(2008)

Grassland system management:Role in the protection of underlying groundwater from health-related microbial pathogens. International conference on grassland and water framework directive.
Brennan, F.P.,O'Flaherty, V.,Richards, K (2008) Grassland system management:Role in the protection of underlying groundwater from health-related microbial pathogens. International conference on grassland and water framework directive. Johnstown Castle, WexfordJohnstown Castle, Wexford: Conference Paper [Details]

The use of fixed and granular biofilms in psychrophilic anaerobic bioreactors treating whey wastewaters. Society for General Microbiology Irish Branch Meeting.
Kearney, A. and O'Flaherty, V. (2004) The use of fixed and granular biofilms in psychrophilic anaerobic bioreactors treating whey wastewaters. Society for General Microbiology Irish Branch Meeting. National University of Ireland, Maynooth: Conference Poster [Details]

Development and evaluation of a nucleic acid stabilization buffer for use in a national microbial soils database project. Society for General Microbiology Irish Branch Meeting.
Carrigg, C., Kavanagh, S. and O'Flaherty, V. (2004) Development and evaluation of a nucleic acid stabilization buffer for use in a national microbial soils database project. Society for General Microbiology Irish Branch Meeting. National University of Ireland, Galway: Conference Poster [Details]

(2004)

Effects of vegetation type on the microbial biodiversity of two blanket peat bogs. Society for General Microbiology Irish Branch Meeting.
Rice, O., Kavanagh S. and O'Flaherty, V. (2004) Effects of vegetation type on the microbial biodiversity of two blanket peat bogs. Society for General Microbiology Irish Branch Meeting. National University of Ireland, Galway: Conference Poster [Details]

Reactor performance and microbial community dynamics during the anaerobic treatment of synthetic industrial wastewater. Society for General Microbiology Irish Branch Meeting.
Scully, C., Collins, G. and O'Flaherty, V. (2004) Reactor performance and microbial community dynamics during the anaerobic treatment of synthetic industrial wastewater. Society for General Microbiology Irish Branch Meeting. National University of Ireland, Galway: Conference Poster [Details]

(2004)

The start-up and performance of two psychrophilic laboratory-scale anaerobic/aerobic hybrid reactors. Society for General Microbiology Irish Branch Meeting.
Connaughton S and O'Flaherty V. (2004) The start-up and performance of two psychrophilic laboratory-scale anaerobic/aerobic hybrid reactors. Society for General Microbiology Irish Branch Meeting. National University of Ireland, Maynooth: Conference Poster [Details]

Biofilm based anaerobic/oxic wastewater treatment systems bio-box) for treatment of industrial wastestreams and contaminated groundwaters: methodology. Irish Research Council for Science Engineering and Technology - First Research Symposium.
Madden, P. and O'Flaherty, V. (2003) Biofilm based anaerobic/oxic wastewater treatment systems bio-box) for treatment of industrial wastestreams and contaminated groundwaters: methodology. Irish Research Council for Science Engineering and Technology - First Research Symposium. Royal Hospital Kilmainham: Conference Poster [Details]

(2003)

Community structure and population dynamics of anaerobic bioreactors treating pharmaceutical wastewaters at low temperatures. Society for General Microbiology Irish Branch Meeting.
Collins, G. and O'Flaherty, V. (2003) Community structure and population dynamics of anaerobic bioreactors treating pharmaceutical wastewaters at low temperatures. Society for General Microbiology Irish Branch Meeting. National University of Ireland, Maynooth: Conference Poster [Details]

The application of a novel anaerobic/aerobic bioreactor for the treatment of low strength municipal wastewater. Society for General Microbiology (Irish Branch) Meeting.
McGinley, S, O'Flaherty, V. and Colleran, E. (1999) The application of a novel anaerobic/aerobic bioreactor for the treatment of low strength municipal wastewater. Society for General Microbiology (Irish Branch) Meeting. University College Cork: Conference Poster [Details]

Optimisation of protocols for the extraction and amplification of DNA from terrestrial soils and marine sediment. Pathways to a sustainable Ireland - A Showcase of Environmental Research Conference.
Carrigg, C., Rice, O., Kavanagh, S. and O' Flaherty, V. (2003) Optimisation of protocols for the extraction and amplification of DNA from terrestrial soils and marine sediment. Pathways to a sustainable Ireland - A Showcase of Environmental Research Conference. Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin: Workshops [Details]

Use of 16SrDNA sequencing and TRFLP analysis to monitor the microbial community structure and dynamics of low-temperature anaerobic digesters. Metals, Microbes and the Environment: Society for General Microbiology Irish Branch Meeting.
Collins, G., Carton, M.W. and O'Flaherty, V. (2002) Use of 16SrDNA sequencing and TRFLP analysis to monitor the microbial community structure and dynamics of low-temperature anaerobic digesters. Metals, Microbes and the Environment: Society for General Microbiology Irish Branch Meeting. Institute of Technology, Carlow: Workshops [Details]

Molecular microbial diversity of an agricultural soil from the West of Ireland. Environ.
Murray, A., Gill, S., Carton, M., O'Flaherty, V. (2001) Molecular microbial diversity of an agricultural soil from the West of Ireland. Environ. Dublin City University: Workshops [Details]